Spanning the most prolific part of
Leadbelly
's career, from when he was released from prison (after having his sentence commuted, for the second time) through his move to New York City in 1946,
The Blues: Bourgeois Blues 1933-1946
released by French label
Fremeaux & Associes
is a pretty good selection of some of the
folk
/bluesman's repertoire, and includes versions of some of his most popular songs (
"Rock Island Line,"
"Goodnight Irene,"
"John Hardy,"
"Leaving Blues,"
etc.). There are liner notes in both French and English included, which is a necessity for any
release, but the two-CD set's (with 18 songs on each disc) lack of
"C.C. Rider,"
"Good Morning Blues,"
and
"Grey Goose"
makes it only a decent compilation, and not a complete one. ~ Marisa Brown